The Australian wrestler stripped of his silver medal after raising his middle finger towards officials has narrowly avoided being sent home from the Commonwealth Games, but will face other sanctions.

Greco-Roman wrestler Hassene Fkiri was guaranteed a silver after reaching the final of the 96-kilogram match against Indian opponent, Anil Kumar, at the Commonwealth Games yesterday.

The match ended when Fkiri received a third caution for rule breaches.

The 36-year-old Fkiri had appeared frustrated during the bout, at one point attempting to slap and head-butt Kumar, before making the obscene gesture after the match.

Australian chef de mission Steve Moneghetti said he had the option of sending Fkiri home on the first plane to Australia for his bad sportsmanship, after he also refused to shake Kumar's hand.

"It would be fair to say that we considered the ramifications of such actions and the impact that that may have on the rest of his life," said Moneghetti, who instead opted to keep Fkiri in the team under several sanctions.

Fkiri will today have to visit the wrestling venue with Moneghetti to personally apologise for his actions to the judges and officials involved.

He has also been ordered to remain in the athletes' village during the rest of his time in India, and to assist his team-mates in their preparations.

Once he returns to Australia, Fkiri will have to spend one hour per week for 12 months helping train up-and-coming wrestlers at a club in Sydney.

Moneghetti said Fkiri had been given a chance at redemption because he had never before shown unsportsmanlike behaviour.

"He's a very experienced sportsman," he said.

"He's been to the Olympic Games and he's 36 years of age, and this was completely out of character.

"He has shown absolutely no indication of this type of behaviour before."

Moneghetti said it was a disappointing result for Fkiri who was in the best form of his career.

"He came through three outstanding rounds, and he was so motivated by the way he was performing that he had a very, very strong desire to win the gold medal," he said.

"As the match was unravelling, I think that personal pressure caused him to make some bad decisions in the final part of the match."